Self-packaged sterilized glove and method



March 12, 1968 w. H. ABILDGAARD' 3,372,799

SELF-PACKAGED STERILIZED GLOVE AND METHOD Filed Jan. 30, 1967 INVENT WILLIAM H. ABILD RD ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,372,799 SELF-PACKAGED STERILHZED GLOVE AND METHOD William H. Abildgaard, Los Altos Hills, Califi, assignor to Becton, Dickinson of California, line, Los Gatos,

Califi, a corporation of California Filed Jan. 30, 1967, Ser. No. 612,415 4 Claims. (Cl. 206-632) ABSTRACT QiF THE DISCLUSURE A self-packaging glove for use by surgeons, physicians, and the like, and the method of making thereof. The glove has its exterior surface sterilized and the wrist and arm portion of the glove is folded back over the hand and finger portion to encompass and extend beyond the hand and finger portion. A closure forms a closed package at the wrist and arm portion of the glove so that the exterior sterils surface of the glove is completely enclosed against contamination.

The present invention relates to the provision of sterile gloves for use by surgeons, physicians, and the like, wherein the glove is folded partially inside out by inverting or folding the wrist and arm portion of the glove over the hand and finger portion and closing the glove at the open end as by heat scaling, for example. In this way a packaged sterilized exterior glove surface is provided on the inside of the package. The surgeon can cut off the heat-sealed arm portion, then place his hand in the hand and finger portion, and refold the glove over his wrist an darm so that an exterior surface in sterile condition is available for use.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a packaged sterilized glove of vinyl, rubber or the like wherein the glove itself forms the package.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of fabricating or making a glove package in which the exterior surface, in sterile condition, is totally enclosed by the glove as a package.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and a preferred method of carrying out the invention as disclosed in the accompanying description made with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a surgeon or physicians glove as initially dip-molded or otherwise manufactured;

FIG. 2 illustrates the glove with wrist and arm portion folded inside out over the hand and finger portion and with a suitable indicator placed within the glove to indicate whether the sterility still obtains;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating the glove as closed as, for example, by heat sealing.

Referring to the drawings, the glove of the instant invention is indicated at It and may comprise, for example, a dip-molded vinyl glove of the type employed by surgeons and physicians and it comprises the usual finger and hand portion 11 and a wrist and arm portion 12 extending therefrom. In accordance with the instant invention the glove is first sterilized, and then in a sterile manner the wrist and arm portion is folded inside out and drawn over the finger and hand portion as shown in FIG. 2 for example. In this way the sterile outside surface of the glove has been placed wholly on the inside of the package formed by the glove itself.

3,372,799 Patented Mar. 12, 1968 At the same time an indicator 13 of the continuing sterility is placed inside the glove. Thereafter the end of the wrist and arm portion 12 may be provided with a heat seal 14 in order to close and hermetically seal the glove as a package so that the inside portion which is the actual exterior surface of the glove is protected against contamination during subsequent handling.

The above invention is particularly useful because it enables factory sterlizing of the glove and maintains sterility during shipping and subsequent handling until it is actually put on by the surgeon. When the glove is to be used, either the surgeon or a helper can cut ofl the end of the glove to remove the heat sealed portion 14, and the surgeon will place his hand within the finger and hand portion, and then refold the wrist and arm portion up over the surgeons sleeve of the gown so as to present a sterilized glove in place on the surgeon so that he can proceed with his work.

While the invention is shown in a preferred form and in connection with a preferred method of carrying out the method, it is obvious that the invention is capable of variation and modification from the form shown so that the scope thereof should be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

I. A self-packaging glove for use by surgeons, physicians and the like, which comprises a glove having its normal exterior surface sterilized, the wrist and arm portion of said glove being folded back over the hand and finger portion thereof to encompass and extend beyond said hand and finger portion, and a closure at the wrist and arm portion of the glove to form a closed package, whereby the exterior sterile surface of the glove is completely enclosed against contamination.

2. A self-package glove for use by surgeons, physicians and the like, which comprises a glove formed of heat-scalable plastic and having its normal exterior surface sterilized, the wrist and arm portion of said glove being folded back over the hand and finger portion thereof to encompass and extend beyond said hand and finger portion, and the wrist and arm portion being heat-sealed to form a closed package whereby the exterior sterile surface of the glove is completely enclosed against contamination.

3. The method of making a sterile package of a glove of vinyl, rubber or the like for use by physicians, surgeons, etc., which comprises sterilizing the glove, folding the wrist and arm portion of the glove back upon itself and over the hand and finger portion of the glove and closing the normally open end of the glove whereby the normal exterior surface of the glove is totally enclosed within a package formed by the glove itself.

4. The method of making a sterile package of a glove of thermoplastic for use by physicians, surgeons, etc., which comprises sterilizing the glove, folding the Wrist and arm portion of the glove back upon itself and over the hand and finger portion of the glove, and closing the normally open end of the glove at .a location beyond said hand and finger portion by forming a heat-sealed band thereacross, the normal exterior surface of the glove is totally enclosed within a package formed by the glove itself.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,621,784 12/1952 Van Boytham 206-46 3,225,920 12/ 1965 Reilly 206-632 MARTHA L. RICE, Primary Examiner. 

